Tightening the net: children, community, and control

The recent move to revitalize social democracy in the UK under the New Labo ur government, explored by Giddens as ;the Third Way', embraces many of Etz ioni's ideas on communitarianism. The principles that emerge from these pol itical philosophies, such as the involvement of local communities in policy consultations and implementation, have largely been welcomed as a reflecti on of the aim of revitalizing civic society in the context of a range of so cial policies. It is argued, however, that for children, contrary to this g eneral trend, many of these policies represent attempts to increase the soc ial control of children. Their effect has been to restrict children's agenc y and their rights, rather than to increase their participation as citizens , and thus, in spite of the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, children continue to be marginalized.